Patricia Cameron

A light in the darkness

by Patricia Cameron | Jun 15, 2022 | Blessing, Loss, Moments

Dusk Delights

They were like twinkling stars against the backdrop of the forest at dusk.

I seldom get to see fireflies, but I stood gazing on the walkway to a rental in the woods this particular weekend.

Simple pleasures, these tiny creatures. Surprised and awe-struck, I wondered what God was thinking when he created their bodies to light up like that. Did he make them just for mankind to enjoy?

While they weren’t colorful, big, or bright and brilliant, these tiny lit creatures reminded me to soak up and enjoy the little things in life, to stop and enjoy the moment.

How is it that we focus on the big, when it is the small that delights and pleases, and even encourages us?

Going through a devastating loss, illness or even disappointment taxes our minds and bodies. But when we see a blessing – even look for a blessing in the situation – we know that God is right beside us.

Lessons Learned

A friend told me recently of lessons she’s learned during a painful and trying season. The main lesson? She learned to appreciate the blessings along the way.

I think that lesson applies to most of us today.

In whatever season, whatever pain, whatever circumstances, let’s look for the blessing in life, big or small. Take time to look for those God-given moments. They just might be the light in our darkness.

____________________

Psalm 8:3-4

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,  the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,  and the son of man that you care for him?

Everyday blessings refresh and restore

by Patricia Cameron | Jun 4, 2022 | Belief, God, Hope, Support

Texas-sized offer

He dropped off his business card at my house the afternoon of my husband Matthew’s memorial service. I didn’t see him, but he left a message. With a heart as big as Texas, he offered to mow our yard for a season and teach my boys how to maintain it when they were older.

And he did just that. While my head was spinning with the events of the previous few days, God sent someone to lighten my load.

Ziplock treasures

He shows up at my back door every few months with a Ziplock bag in his hand. His words are few, just “I went fishing today and brought you some white perch.” His demeanor is quiet, his actions loud. He wears generosity admirably, and I am blessed by it. I’ve learned to accept the gift and appreciate the giver (and to pan-fry white perch like a pro).

A box of chocolates

She calls every year around Father’s Day checking if we’re in town. “I want to drop off something,” she tells me. The first few years were a variety of chocolates, which the boys and I devoured. Later, she left a healthier choice.

Many people are generous and thoughtful following the death of a loved one. But it’s uncommon to continue blessing someone for six years. Her consideration of my boys, especially during a time when they feel loss, refreshes my spirit.

Be refreshed

Paul tells us that the Christians in Corinth refreshed Titus’ spirit.

By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. (2 Corinthians 7:13; emphasis added)

That is what God has done for me, and I bet He’s done the same for you. He refreshes us through people. He restores our hope with kindness given. It may be through family, friends or acquaintances, or the warmth and thoughtfulness of a good neighbor.

Don’t miss the encouragement God delivers at your doorstep. And take a moment to be a blessing to someone today.

Living Life Large

by Patricia Cameron | May 26, 2022 | Joy, Moments

Meeting my mom and dad at the doctor’s office, I popped the trunk to get the scooter out of the car. A problem stared me in the face. The missing battery. I remembered seeing it that morning charging in their den.

I told mom I’d head to their house, get the battery and return so dad could make his appointment. Opening the carport door, I ran straight to the den to grab the scooter battery and quickly turned to make my way back out to the car. My heart almost stopped beating. Two legs were standing close to the door.

Correction: two prosthetic legs stood close to the door. I breathed a sigh of relief. Why were they in the kitchen? I told mom and dad about my experience when I returned, and we all shared a deep belly laugh.

A new pair had been delivered that morning.

The life of an overcomer

Living more than 50 years with prosthetic legs, my dad is the picture of an overcomer. (Growing up, we called them artificial legs.) When life threw disappointment and pain at him, he bounced back, determined to live his life abundantly. He has inspired countless people along the way. He still teases new friends, especially kids, trying to convince them to hit his leg as hard as they can, and laughs when they realized they’re not real. Yep, he’s all about squeezing as much out of life as he can.

I always wanted to live my life to the fullest as well, and I think I got this drive and my sense of adventure from him.

At 89 he decided he would take his three-wheeler for a spin down the street. (Yes, it is a 1980’s three-wheeler, not the safer, more stable four-wheeler version. I grew up doing wheelies on that now-banned ATV!) His excursion may not sound odd but because of his prosthetic legs and his age, we help him get in and out of the car for every outing.

“Dad,” I asked, “How did you even manage to get up on the three-wheeler?” He replied that he backed up to the seat, pushed his body up and swung one leg over. I think his willpower, along with sheer determination, got him on and off it! My heart races just thinking about it.

Nothing like living life to the fullest, right? He says that when he turns 90, he’ll probably stop doing stuff like that. Thankfully, that’s right around the corner.

The Source of all joy

I think Jesus would have us do the same thing. Maybe not breaking the law but living a life overflowing with joy. After all, The Bible teaches that Jesus is the source of all joy.

Granted, there will be pain and disappointment along the way. Until I lost my husband, I never knew that a heart could physically ache from grief. I didn’t know that I could miss someone with every breath I took.

But in my grief, God reminded me of one of my favorite verses. Odd that it talks about living a full life. Jesus told us that He came so we might have life abundantly. (John 10:10) The first part of that verse tells us that the thief (Satan) comes to steal and kill and destroy. But Jesus wants us to not just live life, but experience life to the full. And we don’t have to do it alone. Jesus is right there, walking beside us if we will let him.

Let’s commit to living the rest of our days – not half alive, but fully alive. Like my dad.

God showed up

by Patricia Cameron | May 19, 2022 | God, Trust

For Elijah, God showed up in a whisper. (See 1 Kings 19:11-13)

For me, God showed up on a motorcycle.

Driving through a not-so-safe-small-town on my way home from a funeral in Tennessee, my car blew out a tire. I didn’t hear anything, so I wasn’t certain of it at first. But my tire gauge told me my PSI had quickly dropped to 22. After that, it began declining every few seconds.

I called friends who lived close by. No answer. I thought, “if I can make it to a gas station on the edge of town, it will be well lit.” By the time I arrived, my PSI number was nine. My heart sank when I saw only darkness surrounding the station.

Why were they closed? It was only 10 p.m. on a Friday night. I had no choice but to pull up to the air pump and try to get air in the tire. That didn’t work because by that time, the tire was completely flat. Zero air in it.

As I stood by my car, I saw someone driving toward me on a motorcycle. I quickly ran and jumped in the car; I wasn’t taking any chances. He yelled, “I’m not going to hurt you,” as he passed me. He drove to the end of the parking lot, turned around and headed back my way. My heart in my throat, I cracked my window as he stopped beside me.

His name was Jeremiah. He told me he had seen me from his house, knew the area of town was dangerous, so he came to help. He informed his wife, “I’m going to go help that old lady.” Okay, so my night was getting worse by the second. I’d never been called old lady before, at least not to my face!

I said a quick prayer for protection and got out of the car. My rescuer talked in colorful language while changing the tire out with the spare. At one point, his head darted out from under the car seconds before the jack stand collapsed. My concern escalated.

As a side note, a friend talked with me over the phone as I spoke to Jeremiah throughout the entire encounter. Always quick to help, she had jumped in her car and headed my way, arriving the second time around with the jack. Jeremiah secured the spare tire, loaded the old one in my car, all while sharing many of his life stories. I thanked him as we said our goodbyes.

Later, sharing my story with another friend, she suggested, “God sent an angel to help you.” My quick reply was, “He was no ‘angel.’ I don’t think angels talk like that.”

However, Jeremiah means appointed by God in Hebrew. I had no doubt that God sent him to my rescue, riding in on a two-wheeled chariot, rough language and all.

Be confident of this. God walks beside us when we are afraid. He isn’t just for the Moses’ of the world. He’s for us too. After the death of Moses, God told Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5 NIV)

Just as God called Joshua to trust, we can trust Him at his word and put our faith in Him.

What is your story? How has God rescued you? Do you need rescuing now? I share this story because I’ve been there countless times. Sometimes from my own mistakes and failures. Each time, God has been beside me, sending his appointed to save the day.

Are you going to trust me?

by Patricia Cameron | May 12, 2022 | Belief, God, Trust

“Trust me,” my husband Matthew used to tease. I knew right then I’d best beware. He was up to something.

This flash from the past popped into my mind as God spoke to me about trust during my morning devotion. Oh, I say I trust Him – and really, I do! But overwhelming thoughts sneak in when I least expect it. Worrisome thoughts. Fearful thoughts. Sometimes even dark thoughts.

God calls us to trust. This means trusting no matter the circumstances. That trust – or confidence – allows us to be calm in stressful situations. That’s trust in action.

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

Trusting in Christ strengthens us. He is our strength, if we will let go and trust. I have reacted in ways that absolutely came from the Lord’s strength, not mine.

Shortly after Matthew’s death I learned something that had my head spinning and my stomach in knots. Breathless, I cried “Lord, what am I going to do?” In my spirit, I heard God say, “Are you going to trust me in this?” In a heartbeat, I thought “I don’t know what else to do but trust you.”

And that is what we are called to do. Even in our desperation, put our trust in action. Trust the one who is trustworthy no matter your:

situation;

heartache;

conflict; or even

your next decision.

Reading the word of God tells us how. Let the words of Christ wash over us in a new and life-changing way today. Chances are, God just may be up to something.

But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)